The Evolution of Thomas Keating’s Teachings on the Evolution of Consciousness
In this eagerly awaited Centering Prayer teaching retreat, Centering Prayer master teacher Cynthia Bourgeault continues her groundbreaking exploration of the late teachings of Fr. Thomas Keating, this year focusing on “the evolution of Thomas Keating’s teaching on the evolution of consciousness.”
Over a period of nearly forty years Thomas’ understanding of human consciousness steadily grew: from his signature teaching in the 1980s, heavily influenced by the philosopher Ken Wilber, through his paradigm-shattering encounter with the contemporary Christian mystic Bernadette Roberts, to his own increasingly integrated and unique vision of Christian Non-Duality as a kind of “flowing oneness.” As Thomas fully embraced his own nondual awakening, he began to write and see from a perspective rarely attained in the Christian mystical tradition, significantly “growing” the Christian spiritual roadmap while planting the seeds to bring our own practice of Centering Prayer to the next level.
Through teaching, dialogue, guided meditations —but mostly through the practice of Centering Prayer itself —Cynthia will explore how Thomas charts this new course; and more important, what his maturing insights have to offer our own continuing spiritual evolution today.
This is quintessentially a teaching retreat, inviting the full engagement of both mind and heart. We will be exploring the insights of some of the spiritual giants of our time—Ken Wilber, Bernadette Roberts, Jean Gebser— as well as some of the most sublime and challenging writings of “late Thomas,” including selections from his Reflections of the Unknowable, That We May Be One, and The Secret Embrace. We will embrace these teachings however, from within the milieu of Centering Prayer: not as an academic exercise but as the articulation of something most of us have already tasted and verified in our hearts.
The retreat will have a Centering Prayer focus, but committed practitioners of any form of sitting meditation are welcome and will find themselves at home. Aside from the specific times of teaching and dialogue, the retreat and all meals will be conducted in silence.
TEACHER
The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault is an Episcopal priest and writer. She has been a long-time advocate of the meditative practice of Centering Prayer and has worked closely with fellow teachers and colleagues including Thomas Keating, Bruno Barnhart, and Richard Rohr. Bourgeault has actively participated in numerous inter-spiritual dialogues and events with luminaries and leaders such as A.H. Almaas, Kabir Helminski, Swami Atmarupananda, and Rami Shapiro. Bourgeault is a member of the GPIW (Global Peace Initiative for Women) Contemplative Council and recipient of the 2014 Contemplative Voices award from Shalem Institute. She is a founding Director of both The Contemplative Society and the Aspen Wisdom School. She is also the author of many books, including The Holy Trinity and the Law of Three, The Meaning of Mary Magdalene, The Wisdom Jesus, Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening, Mystical Hope, Thomas Keating: The Making of a Modern Christian Mystic, and others. For more information on Cynthia Bourgeault’s work, please visit her website.
ACCOMMODATIONS
There are Single, Double and Dorm rooms available. Please note, there is no available guest elevator and all rooms are accessible by stairs—except for those reserved for the mobility-impaired on the first floor. There are two communal bathrooms on each residential floor as well as a comfortable lounge with sofas and easy chairs, where tea and instant coffee are available. The lounges also are equipped with wireless, high-speed internet connection. There are several local hotels within driving distance from the Institute, for those who wish to stay off-site, as commuters. Onsite meals are included with commuter registrations.
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